Mumbai, Sep 18 (IANS): Key Indian equity indices -- the BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 -- surged during the early-morning trade session on Monday on the back of positive Asian peers and healthy buying in automobile, capital goods and banking stocks.

Around 9.20 a.m., the wider 51-scrip Nifty50 of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) rose by 70.15 points, or 0.70 per cent, to trade at 10,155.55 points.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 32,361.37 points, traded at 32,449.33 points -- up 176.72 points, or 0.55 per cent, from its Friday's close at 32,272.61 points.

The Sensex has so far touched a high of 32,465.01 points and a low of 32,361.25 points during intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was bullish -- with 1,087 advances and 210 declines.

Last Friday, the benchmark indices closed on a flat note as weak global cues on the back of recurring geo-political tensions, coupled with profit booking, subdued investors' sentiments.

The Sensex closed with marginal gains at 32,272.61 points -- up 30.68 points, or 0.10 per cent, while the Nifty50 inched down 1.20 points, or 0.01 per cent, to close at 10,085.40 points.